Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed will address the students of Brigham Young University-Idaho (BYUI) in Rexburg, which “was founded and is supported and guided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”, whose mission includes “to develop disciples of Jesus Christ…”.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, will address the students on May 28 in a meeting organised by BYUI Interfaith Leadership Society, where the faculty of the Department of Religious Education has also been invited. Almost all of the Society students are reportedly members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with only rare exceptions.

BYUI Interfaith Leadership Society, “ The student-led, student-run organisation for students of BYU-Idaho”, founded in 2020, has reportedly over 400 members. Jaxon Waite is the President, while Dr. Ryan S. Gardner, who teaches World Religions and LDS doctrine and history, is Faculty Advisor.

Rajan Zed, a global Hindu and interfaith leader, has been bestowed with the World Interfaith Leader Award. Zed is on the Advisory Board of The Interfaith Peace Project, Senior Fellow and Religious Advisor to Foundation for Religious Diplomacy, etc. He has been a panellist for “On Faith”, a prestigious interactive conversation on religion produced by The Washington Post. He has led a weekly interfaith panel, “Faith Forum”, in a USA TODAY Network publication for over 15 years.

In Idaho, Zed has read opening prayers in the State Senate, the Board of Commissioners of Bonneville and Owyhee counties and City Councils of Boise, Meridian, Burley, Star, St. Anthony, and Arimo.

Hinduism is the oldest and third largest religion in the world, has about 1.2 billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are about 3.2 million Hindus in the USA.

At BYUI, to graduate with a bachelor's degree, students must take 14 credits in religion. Total BYUI student enrollment is stated to be 50,336 and 20% campus based students are married. Alvin F. Meredith III is the President.

Details of the picture attached: Rajan Zed (in orange vestment) with some Religious Education faculty members of Brigham Young University-Idaho in 2024.